With his two RBI coming into Friday’s game, Toby Hall has the distinction of the fewest runs batted in by any major leaguer with at least 100 at-bats this season. Some might be upset by that, but the White Sox catcher is actually taking a positive approach toward his offensive struggles, which include not a single long ball.

Nathaniel Whalen

With his two RBI coming into Friday’s game, Toby Hall has the distinction of the fewest runs batted in by any major leaguer with at least 100 at-bats this season.

Some might be upset by that, but the White Sox catcher is actually taking a positive approach toward his offensive struggles, which include not a single long ball.

“Having two RBI and hitting .200 or whatever (.193 coming into Friday) to me is way better than a 0, 0, 0,” Hall said. “At least I came back this year and at least I put the effort into coming back and not sit and collect a paycheck.

“That’s what a lot of people don’t understand. I can be hanging out in Florida and be watching what’s going on. I had to sacrifice either way -- either going into surgery or not being that good.

“I made that decision to come back and play at not 100 percent. The only thing I hurt was statistics.”

Hall tore his right (throwing) labrum during a spring training game, and everyone thought he was done before the season even began.

Instead, Hall chose to rehab and came back on May 16 -- though he admits that was “a month” too early.

Now he’s suffering through easily the worst offensive year of his career.

Still, the man who was signed to provide a solid offensive for A.J. Pierzynski has no regrets about the season.

“Oh, no,” Hall said when asked if he regretted signing with the Sox. “This was the right organization. This is still a first-class organization. It’s just one of those bumps in the road that every organization will have.”

As far as his comeback and season go?

“The two RBI, the whatever, at least I got two this year,” he said. “That’s the way I look at it.”

Major minor changes

When the Sox hold their organizational meetings next month, manager Ozzie Guillen wants to focus on the minor league system.

“I’m going to take a different look this spring training than I did before,” Guillen said. “I’m going to spend a lot of time in Tucson watching the minor league kids every day. I’m going to spend more time down there than I do with the big-league club and I want to see good things.

“I want to see people make me smile like, ‘Wow, I can count on this kid in a few years.’ ‘Wow, this kid might be here next month.’ Stuff like that.

Numbers don’t lie

Heading into Friday’s game the Sox:

- Had been outscored 822-682, their worst run differential since 1976.

- Had struck out a club record 1,132 times.

- Were hitting .246 with a .318 on-base percentage, their lowest totals since .244 and .303, respectively, in 1988.

Scheduled thus far are clinics Nov. 17-18 in LaGrange, Dec. 8-10 in Lisle and Schererville, Ind., and Jan. 3-4 in Schaumburg. All will be for pitchers ages 7-18.

Information is available at www.bullssoxacademy.com

Paying homage

The Sox had a pregame ceremony honoring Mark Buehrle’s no-hitter and Bobby Jenks’ streak of 41 consecutive batters retired. There was a video montage for each, who were also presented with a photo collection and a ceremonial ring from chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.